Ordnance breech mechanism



Feb. 12 1924, 1,483,161

A. T. DAWSON ET AL- ORDNANCE BREECH MECHANISM Filed Nov. 13 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 12 1924. 1,483,163

A. T. DAWSON ET AL V v ORDNANCE BREECH MECHANISM Filed Nov. 15} 1925 2 Sheets-$heet 2 rib i// I I 152 Patent Feb. in, man.

ITHUR TREVOR DAWSON, GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM, AND WILL ROBERTSON PUBVIS, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS T0 VIGKERS LIMITED,

OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGND.

onancn BEEECH nrncnamsm.

Application filed November 13, 1923. Serial No. 676,455.

To all whomz't may comer n;

Be it known that we, Hon Tnnvoiz Dawson, Gnonn THOMAS 'BUCKHAM, and WILLIAM Roennrson Ptmvis, all subjects of the King of-Great Britain, residing at Vickers House, firoadway, Westminster, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Ordnance Breech Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ordnance breech mechanism of the swinging carrier type in which the opening and closing movements of the carrier are efiected through mechanism or gearing ing character. In such breech mechanisms when used with naval guns the carrier may take charge as a result of the roll ofthe ship, that is to say the momentum acquired by the carrier as a result of the roll of the ship may take the breech mechanism out of the control of the operator who is therefore liable to be injured by the swinging mass or by the operating handlever or handwheel.

According to the present lnventlon in order to obviate the above-mentioned difficulty without having to employ low speed self-locking gearing, we provlde a self-locking device which operates to retain the carrier in any osition in which it is placed until the sai device is released by the movement of the operating handlever or handwheel in either dlI'BClJlOR. This device acts between the carrier or a part movable therewith and a part on the gun and may comrise pairs of spring controlled rollers or lialls which engage with relatively inclined circumferential surfaces on the said parts to retain the carrier as aforesaid.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into efi'ect the same will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the breech end of a gun having a breech mechanism operated by a handlever, the device according to the invention andthe parts associated with it being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a section taken ap roximately on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, an drawn to a larer scale.

igure 3 is a plan of the breech end of a which is not of a self-lockgun having a breech mechanism operated by a handwheel and gearing which is not self- V a larger scale.

A is part of the gun, B is the breech screw, C is the carrier, '0 is the carrier axis pin and D is the operating handlever (Figures 1 and 2) or handwheel (Figures 3 to 5).

In the construction shewn by Figures 1 and 2 the handlever D has a boss D rotatably disposed co-axially with the carrier axis pin 0 in a casing A forming part of or rigidly connected to the gun. A second boss or col ar C which is integral with the carrier axis pin keyed to the carrier (or which alternatively may form art of the carrier) is situated co-axially wit respect to the firstmentioned boss 1) and has two lugs 0 c disposed, with a certain amount of lost-motion, between two pairs of projections d, d and d d on the boss DE. The surfaces between the said lugs 0 .0? are so shaped as to provide four cam or inclined faces 0 c with which spring pressed balls or rollers 0, c* engage to lock the carrier to the gun. When the handlever is turned in one direction or the other, the corresponding balls or rollers are moved by one pair of the aforesaid projections out of engagement with the inclined faces after which the other projections come against the aforesaid lugs 0, c and the carrier is thereby freely moved in the desired direction. This is the position shewn in Figure 2 during the closing movement of the handlever D. When the handlever is not bein operated, the balls or rollers arepressed %y their springs into engagement with the inclined faces and the carrier is thereby locked against movement in both directions.

In the construction shewn by Figures 3 to 5 a similar arrangement of. self-locking device is employed except that the boss or collar C forms part of one of the gear wheels C, (3 operating a nut C rotatably mounted in a bracket a pivoted at a to the un and that the casin A. is carried by this bracket; the nut engages with a screw-threaded member G pivoted at C to an arm on the carrier C, the pitch of the threads being such that the nut and the member C do not constitute a self-locking mechanism, that is to say a force applied axially to the said member would result in the not being turned it the aforesaid selflocking device were not provided,

In both the constructions described the aforesaid casing A may include a hardened ring with the inner surface of which the balls or rollers c", c*- engage.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In ordnance breech mechanism, the

combination of' a movable carrier, means I which are not of a self-locking character for operating said carrier, an operating member for said means, a self-locking device which operates to retain the carrier in any position in which it is laced and means operated by said member or releasing said device on movement of said member in either direction.

2. In ordnance breech mechanism, the combination of a swinging carrier, means which are not of aself-locking character for operating said carrier, an o crating member for said means, a self-loo ing device which operates to retain the carrier in any position in which it is placed and means operated by said member for releasing said device onmovement of said member in either direction, v

- 3.1n ordnance breech mechanism, the

combination of a swinging carrier. means which are not of a self-locking character for operating said carrier, an operating member for said means, a self-locking device acting between a part movable with said carrier and a part on the gun for retaining the carrier in any position in which it is placed and means operated by said member for releasing said device on movement of said member in either direction.

4. In ordnance breech mechanism, the combination of a swinging carrier. means which are not of a self-locking character for operating said carrier, an operating member for said means, a self-locking device comprising pairs of spring-controlled member which engage with relatively inclined circumferential surfaces on a part movable with said carrier and a part on the gun to retain the carrier in any position in which it is placed, and means operated by meager said operatin member for releasing said spring-controlled members on movement of said operating member.

5., In ordnance breech mechanism, the combination of a swinging carrier, a handlever, means which are not of a self-locking character interposed between said handlevcr and said carrier for operating the latter, :1- self-locking device comprising pairs of spring-controlled members which engage with relatively inclined circumferential surfaces on a part movable with said carrier and a part on the gun to retain the carrier in any position in which it is placed, projections on the boss of said handlever for co-operating with said members and lugs on said part movable with the carrier, these lugs being disposed between said projections with a certain ambunt of lost motion.

6. In ordnance breech mechanism, the combination of a swinging carrier, a handwheel, gearing comprising a screw and not of quic pitch interposed between said handwheel and said carrier for operating the latter, self-looliin device comprising pairs of spring-controlfed members which engage with relatively inclined surfaces on a part of said gearing and a part on the gun to retain the carrier in any position in which it is placed, projections on the boss of said handwheel for cooperating with said niem' bers, and lugs on said part of the gearing, these lugs being disposed between said projections with a certain amount of lost metlon,

7, In ordnance breech mechanism, the combination of a swinging carrier, a handwheel, gearing comprising a screw and nut of quick pitch interposed between said handwheel and said carrier for operating the latter, a bracket carrying said gearing, means for pivoting said bracket on the gun, aselt locking device comprising pairs of spring-controlled members which engage with relatively inclined surfaces on a part of said gearing and on said bracket to retain the carrier in any position in which it is placed, projections on the boss of said handwheel for co-operating with said members, and lugs on said part of the gearing, these lugs being disposed between said pro jections with a certain amount of lost motion.

ARTHUR TREVQR D'AWSQN. GEQRGE THGMAS BUCKHARQ. WILLEAM EUBERTSUN 

